[CTPCA] May 2018 Newsletter

A new kind of tick has been found on the east coast and it could bring up a host of new problems. The East Asian tick can carry diseases and was found in New Jersey. Officials are looking into whether or not the insect will venture up to Connecticut. The East Asian tick was found just to the south of the state and experts said they were able to survive the cold, long winter. Despite the state’s increasing tick population, experts are hopeful that the currently slow start to spring may result in less tick activity compared with last year. Read more here.

Here's How Hard Increase in Mosquito-Borne Diseases is Hitting CT

By Feroze Dhanoa, Patch National Staff

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is warning that mosquito-borne illnesses are on the increase in the country. In Connecticut, between 2004 and 2016, there were 544 mosquito-borne disease cases, according to CDC data. As opposed to tick-related diseases, Connecticut had one of the lowest number of mosquito-borne disease cases. However, the CDC notes that there are indications that cases were substantially underreported. The most number of mosquito-borne illnesses were in Puerto Rico where the CDC reported over 80,000 cases. Read morehere.

City Kicks Off Mosquito Control Measures

Milford Mirror

With the return of warmer weather and spring rain, residents can also expect the return of mosquitoes.

Milford, CT began its mosquito control measures late last month, with a pest management company monitoring the wetlands habitats in Milford and treating the marshy areas throughout the city. Next on the list are the storm drains and catch basins. The primary focus of the Milford Health Department’s program is prevention through mosquito breeding site reduction, especially in densely populated areas, and education about personal protection, according to the city’s health department.

In June, the CT Agricultural Experiment Station will begin mosquito monitoring throughout Connecticut to identify, trap and test insects for early detection of West Nile Virus, Eastern Equine Encephalitis, as well as monitoring for Zika virus. Read more here.

Lyme Disease Warning Issued by CT Department of Health

By Zak Failla, Fairfield Daily Voice

The Connecticut Department of Public Health is cautioning residents to take precautionary measures to avoid Lyme disease, which “can be readily acquired in any Connecticut town, particularly in areas that are wooded.” To combat the rise in Lyme disease, health officials have made literature available to Fairfield residents and have offered testing of ticks for the bacterium that causes Lyme disease. Read more here.

Smart Homes, Smart Pest Management

By Sheryl S. Jackson, PestWorld

Automated homes can maintain a consistent comfortable temperature, clean the floors, turn ovens on or off, and make coffee in the morning offers conveniences that make life easier.

The growth in integrated smart technologies in the home will affect pest management companies, says Beth Berry, vice president of business solutions and software for Real Green Systems. Do-it-yourself security systems that include cameras, remote monitoring and controlled access present a number of benefits to pest management operators.

Tech Training: Go Big or Go Home

By Amy Bell, PestWorld

Businesses across the globe, including many pest management companies, are spending more on technology every year. In 2015 alone, small business technology investments skyrocketed by 50 percent, according to Microsoft. Why are companies doubling down on technology? Because when businesses bet on the right tech tools, the payout can be huge.

A record 1,093 data breaches affected U.S. companies and government agencies in 2016, a 40 percent increase from 2015.

While a pest management company owner might not think the company’s data is a target for cybercriminals because credit card or financial information on customers is not stored or because they are small businesses, the reality is that all businesses are at risk and should take steps to protect data and technology used by the business.

Looking for ways to communicate with your customers about seasonal pest problems that could affect their home? Or maybe you need an inexpensive marketing vehicle to use that will get the word out on your company. From newsletters and brochures to flyers and other content, NPMA's customizable resources allow you to take advantage of our technical expertise and design team by putting your company information on these resources and sharing them with customers.

Question: There is a considerable size difference between rodent bait stations intended to control rats versus those designed to control mice. Is it OK to only use the larger of the two bait stations to control both rats and mice?

The Professional Pest Management Alliance (PPMA), which serves as the public outreach arm of the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), is working to educate consumers about bed bugs during Bed Bug Awareness Week, June 3-9, and we need your help!

Below is a link to a survey that's all about your work with bed bugs. We would really appreciate it if you could take 10-15 minutes to fill out this survey, as your expert insight will be extremely valuable here. We're looking to compile this aggregated new data to share with the media, on social media, and through other marketing efforts, to help tell the important story of working with YOU — a licensed pest control professional for bed bug prevention and control.

“We have a fantastic Board in place this year,” said incoming President Dennis Jenkins. “I look forward to working closely with this group of talented individuals as we continue to support our industry and set forth our future direction.”